Mini belt and method using the same

ABSTRACT

A belt and a method of using a belt that includes passing a belt (e.g., a stretch belt) through a first loop and a second loop of a waistband of a garment, the belt including an elastic member that includes a longitudinal extent, a first major surface, a second major surface, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, a first mating connector attached to the first major surface near the first end, and a second mating connector attached to the second major surface near the second end, and engaging the first mating connector and the second mating connector to maintain the elastic member in the form of a closed loop around the first loop of the waist band and the second loop of the waist band.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/141,373 filed Dec. 30, 2008, and incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a belt for a garment and maintaining garmentson a wearer.

In many occupations and activities, a belt worn around the waist cancause pain and discomfort to a wearer. The strap of the belt or the beltbuckle can cut into the body when the body is bent or moved in certainconfigurations.

There is a need for a belt that does not impart pain to a wearer doingphysical activity.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention features a method of using a belt, themethod including passing a belt through a first loop and a second loopof a waistband of a garment, the belt including a first member (e.g., anelongated member) that includes a longitudinal extent, a first majorsurface, a second major surface, a first end, and a second end oppositethe first end, a first mating connector attached to the first majorsurface near the first end, and a second mating connector attached tothe second major surface near the second end, and engaging the firstmating connector and the second mating connector to maintain the firstmember in the form of a closed loop around the first loop of the waistband and the second loop of the waist band. In some embodiments, thefirst member is an elongated member.

In one embodiment, the belt is a stretch belt in which the first memberis an elastic member. In some embodiments, there are no waistband loopspositioned between the first waistband loop and the second waistbandloop. In other embodiments, the first mating connector includes aplurality of loops and the second mating connector includes a pluralityof hooks, the hooks being positioned on the second major surface and theloops being positioned on the first major surface such that the hooks ofthe second mating connector releasably engage loops of the first matingconnector. In other embodiments, the second mating connector includes atleast two hooks. In one embodiment, the second mating connector includesat least three hooks. In another embodiment, the first mating connectorincludes at least two loops. In some embodiments, the first matingconnector comprises at least three loops.

In another embodiment, the belt further includes attaching an ornamentto the belt.

In another aspect the invention features a belt that includes an elasticmember comprising a longitudinal extent, a first major surface, a secondmajor surface, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, thelongitudinal extent extending between the first end and the second endand being no greater than 4 inches, a first mating connector attached tothe first major surface, and a second mating connector attached to thesecond major surface, the engagement of the first mating connector withthe second mating connector maintaining the elastic member in the formof a closed loop.

In another aspect, the invention features a method of using a belt, themethod including passing a first belt through a first loop and a secondloop of a waistband of a garment, the belt comprising a first membercomprising a longitudinal extent, a first major surface, a second majorsurface, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, andengaging the first end and the second end to maintain the first memberin the form of a closed loop around the first loop of the waist band andthe second loop of the waist band. In some embodiments, the first memberis a zip tie, a rope, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the first member further includes a first matingconnector attached to the first major surface near the first end, and asecond mating connector attached to the second major surface near thesecond end, the engaging including engaging the first mating connectorand the second mating connector to maintain the first member in the formof a closed loop around the first loop of the waist band and the secondloop of the waist band.

In other embodiments, the garment is a pair of pants that includes beltloops. In some embodiments the method further includes inserting thelongitudinal extent of a second belt having a longitudinal extent of atleast 24 inches through the belt loops of the garment, the second beltcomprising a first end, a second end, and a buckle attached to the firstend, securing the first end in the buckle, and tucking at least aportion of the first belt behind the second belt. In some embodiments,the tucking includes tucking at least the first and second matingconnectors of the first belt behind the portion of the belt thatincludes the buckle.

In some embodiments, the first mating connector includes at least twohooks. In other embodiments, the second mating connector includes atleast two loops.

In another embodiment, the first member is elastic.

In other aspects, a method of using a belt, the method includes passinga first belt through a first loop and a second loop of a waistband of apair of pants that includes the belt loops, the belt includes a firstmember including a longitudinal extent, a first major surface, a secondmajor surface, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, andopenings extending through the first member near the first end, and asecond mating connector attached to the second major surface near thesecond end, and engaging the second mating connector with at least oneof the openings in the first member to maintain the first belt in theform of a closed loop around the first loop of the waist band and thesecond loop of the waist band. In one embodiment, the second matingconnector comprises a buckle comprising a pin, the pin extending throughat least one perforation.

In other aspects, the invention features a mini-belt that includes anelastic band having a longitudinal extent and comprising a first end anda second end, a first mating connector attached to the first end, and asecond mating connector attached to the second end, wherein thelongitudinal extent is no greater than 4 inches,

In some embodiments, the mini-belt is capable of maintaining a loosefitting pair of pants having at least two belt loops on a wearer whenthe elastic band extends around the at least two belt loops and thefirst mating connector is connected to the second mating connector. Inother embodiments, the longitudinal extent is no greater than 3 inches.In another embodiment, the longitudinal extent is no greater than 2inches. In still other embodiments, the longitudinal extent is nogreater than 1 inch.

In one embodiment, the elastic band further includes a width that is nogreater than about 1.5 inches. In some embodiments, the width is nogreater than about 0.5 inch.

The invention features a belt of simple construction that does notinterfere with the comfort of the wearer and that maintains the garmenton the wearer (e.g., holds the pants up and prevents them from fallingdown).

The invention also enables the simultaneous wearing of the belt and asecond belt, e.g., a more aesthetically pleasing or fashionable belt.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the briefdescription of the drawings, the following description of the preferredembodiments and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a belt positioned around two loops of awaistband of a garment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the belt of FIG. 1 in a tightenedconfiguration around loops of the waistband.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first major surface of the belt of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second major surface of the belt of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the belt of FIG. 1 in a closed loop.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a portion of the belt of FIG. 1 in an engagedconfiguration.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of a belt according to anotherembodiment in an engaged configuration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a belt that includes an ornament.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A of the belt ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the back of the ornament of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a method of using the mini-beltaccording to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, the method of wearing a belt includes passing a belt10 through a first loop 12 and a second loop 14 of a waistband 16 of agarment 18 and maintaining the belt 10 in a closed loop 25 around thefirst loop 12 and the second loop 14 of the waistband 16, as illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2. The belt 10 can be tightened to exert the desiredlevel of tension on the first and second loops 12, 14 of the waistband16. The tension pulls the loops 12, 14 toward one another and decreasesany slack present in the waistband 16 of the garment 18. The tension maycause the material of the waistband 16 of the garment 18 to buckle andform folds 29. The garment can be any garment that includes belt loopsincluding pants (e.g., dress pants, slacks, jeans, shorts, Bermudas, andswim trunks), skirts, dresses, and coats.

In one embodiment, the belt 10 is a stretch belt that includes anelastic member 24, a first major surface 20, a second major surface 22,a longitudinal extent 26, a first end 28, a second end 30 opposite thefirst end 28, the longitudinal extent 26 extending between the first end28 and the second end 30, a first mating connector 32 and a secondmating connector 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The first matingconnector 32 is positioned on the second major surface of the belt 10near the first end 28 of the elastic member 24. The second matingconnector 34 is positioned on the first major surface 20 of the belt 10near the second end 30 of the elastic member 24. When the elastic member24 is looped over on itself such that the first mating connector 32 isbrought into contact with the second mating connector 34, the first andsecond mating connectors 32, 34 can be engaged with one another in sucha manner so as to fasten the first and second ends 28, 30 of the belt 10together and to maintain the belt 10 in the form of a closed loop 25.The wearer can engage and disengage the first and second matingconnectors 32, 34 to fasten and unfasten the ends 28, 30 of the belt 10,respectively. The tension on the belt 10 and the tension exerted by thebelt 10 on the loops 12, 14 of the garment 18 can be increased byconnecting the second mating connector 34 to a row 32 a, 32 b, 32 c ofthe first mating connector 32 that is farther away from the first end 28of the belt 10, which effectively shortens the length of the belt 10.

The first mating connector 32 of the belt is in the form of a femaleconnector that includes three rows 32 a, 32 b, 32 c of loops 60 spaced adistance apart from one another along a portion of the longitudinalextent 26 of the belt 10. Each row 32 a, 32 b, 32 c of the femaleconnector includes two loops 60 that are spaced apart from one anotherin a latitudinal array. The second mating connector 34 is in the form ofa male connector that includes a single set of two hooks 62 spaced apartfrom one another in a latitudinal array. The spacing of the loops 60 andthe spacing of the hooks 62 is such that the hooks 62 and the loops 60align to enable each of the hooks 62 to hook around a corresponding loop60 and to maintain the ends 28, 30 of the belt 10 in a relatively flushrelationship with one another.

In other embodiments, the female connector includes any of a number ofdifferent rows and loops including, e.g., one, three, four, five and sixloops, rows and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the maleconnector includes any suitable number of hooks and rows can be utilizedincluding, e.g., one, three, four, five and six hooks, rows andcombinations thereof. Although a female connector is illustrated asbeing the first mating connector and the second mating connector isillustrated as being a male connector, the first mating connector can bea male connector, and the second mating connector can be a femaleconnector. In addition, although the first and second mating connectorsare illustrated as being on opposite major surfaces of the belt, theycould be on the same surface of the belt.

In other embodiments, the mating connectors are in the form of snaps,grommets, buckles, friction fit constructions, Velcro hook and loopfibers, and combinations thereof.

The exposed major surface of the belt in the area of the connectionbetween the first and second mating connectors, i.e., the second majorsurface 22 of the belt 10, hides the connection between the matingconnectors 32, 34 when the belt 10 is in the form of a closed loop 25and the connectors are engaged as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6.In some embodiments, a portion 44 of the belt 10 at the second end 40 ofthe belt extends beyond the second mating connector 46 an amountsufficient to cover and hide all of the mating connectors 46, 48including, e.g., the loops 50 of a female connector and the hooks 52 ofa male connector an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 7.

The belt has a longitudinal extent that is much shorter than that oftraditional belts and can have a variety of configurations. Thelongitudinal extent 26 preferably is no greater than 4 inches, nogreater than 3.5 inches, no greater than 3 inches, no greater than 2inches, or even no greater than 1 inch, and a width that is no greaterthan about 2 inches, no greater than about 1.5 inches, no greater thanabout 1.25 inches, no greater than about 0.5 inch, at least about 0.2inch, at least about 0.4 inch or even at least about 0.6 inch.

The elastic member 24 exhibits a linear elasticity in the direction ofits longitudinal extent and resistance to stretching in the direction ofits longitudinal extent.

The elongated member of the belt can be made from a variety of othermaterials including, e.g., leather, nonwoven web, woven fabric, string,rope, yarn, zip tie, plastic, and combinations thereof. Useful zip tieconstructions include, e.g., a female component (e.g., an opening) onone end of a longitudinal extent and ridges extending from thelongitudinal extent. The ridges fixedly engage the female component toprevent the longitudinal extent from releasing from the femalecomponent.

In some embodiments, the belt 70 includes an ornament 72 positioned overthe belt 70 so as to hide at least a portion of the belt 70 from theview of an observer as illustrated in FIGS. 8-10. The ornament 72includes two slides 74, 76 extending from a back surface 78 thereof,each slide being dimensioned to engage the elongated member 80 of thebelt 70. A wide variety of ornaments are suitable having a variety ofshapes, dimension and constructions including decorative items in avariety of shapes including, e.g., a buckle, a faceted article (e.g., adiamond shaped article), a polygon, a circle, letters, names, andcombinations thereof.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of wearing the belt 10. Themethod of wearing a belt 10 includes the method as described above andfurther includes inserting an end 102 of a second belt 90 through theloops 98 of a pair of pants 18 such that the second belt 90 extendsaround the waist of pants 18, securing the first end of the second beltin the buckle 94 of the second belt and securing the belt in a fixedposition with the pin 96 of the buckle 94 extending through an opening92 near the first end 102 of the second belt, and tucking at least theportion of the first belt 10 that includes mating connectors (not shown)behind the second belt, e.g., behind the area of the buckle 94 of thesecond belt.

Other embodiments are within the claims.

All patents and patent publications mentioned herein are incorporatedherein in their entirety.

1. A method of using a belt, the method comprising: passing a first beltthrough a first loop and a second loop of a waistband of a garment, thebelt comprising a first member comprising a longitudinal extent, a firstmajor surface, a second major surface, a first end, and a second endopposite the first end, and engaging the first end and the second end tomaintain the first member in the form of a closed loop around the firstloop of the waist band and the second loop of the waist band.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first member further comprises: a firstmating connector attached to the first major surface near the first end;and a second mating connector attached to the second major surface nearthe second end, the engaging comprising engaging the first matingconnector and the second mating connector to maintain the first memberin the form of a closed loop around the first loop of the waist band andthe second loop of the waist band.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thegarment is a pair of pants that includes belt loops.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the method further comprises: inserting thelongitudinal extent of a second belt having a longitudinal extent of atleast 24 inches through the belt loops of the garment, the second beltcomprising a first end, a second end, and a buckle attached to the firstend; securing the first end in the buckle; and tucking at least aportion of the first belt behind the second belt.
 5. The method of claim4, wherein the tucking comprises tucking at least the first and secondmating connectors of the first belt behind the portion of the belt thatincludes the buckle.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first matingconnector comprises at least two hooks.
 7. The method of claim 4,wherein the second mating connector comprises at least two loops.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the second mating connector comprises atleast two loops.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the first member iselastic.
 10. A method of using a belt, the method comprising: passing afirst belt through a first loop and a second loop of a waistband of apair of pants comprising the belt loops, the belt comprising a firstmember comprising a longitudinal extent, a first major surface, a secondmajor surface, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, andopenings extending through the first member near the first end; and asecond mating connector attached to the second major surface near thesecond end; and engaging the second mating connector with at least oneof the openings in the first member to maintain the first belt in theform of a closed loop around the first loop of the waist band and thesecond loop of the waist band.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thesecond mating connector comprises a buckle comprising a pin, the pinextending through at least one perforation.
 12. A mini-belt comprising:an elastic band having a longitudinal extent and comprising a first endand a second end; a first mating connector attached to the first end;and a second mating connector attached to the second end; wherein thelongitudinal extent is no greater than 4 inches,
 13. The mini-belt ofclaim 12, wherein the mini-belt is capable of maintaining a loosefitting pair of pants having at least two belt loops on a wearer whenthe elastic band extends around the at least two belt loops and thefirst mating connector is connected to the second mating connector. 14.The mini-belt of claim 12, wherein the longitudinal extent is no greaterthan 3 inches.
 15. The mini-belt of claim 12, wherein the longitudinalextent is no greater than 2 inches.
 16. The mini-belt of claim 12,wherein the longitudinal extent is no greater than 1 inch.
 17. Themini-belt of claim 12, wherein the elastic band further comprises awidth that is no greater than about 1.5 inches.
 18. The mini-belt ofclaim 12, wherein the width is no greater than about 0.5 inch.
 19. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first member comprises at least one of azip tie and rope.